Paul Doyle changed his plea to guilty on all 31 charges after driving into a crowd of Liverpool fans in the city centre and causing injuries to more than 100 people in the process
Paul Doyle
Paul Doyle drove through crowds celebrating after a Liverpool game
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A dad-of-three dubbed the "perfect family man" who turned a day of celebration for fans into a scene of horror is now facing the stark reality of a lengthy prison sentence.
After changing his plea to guilty on all 31 charges - including dangerous driving and causing grievous bodily harm with intent - the 54-year-old has been remanded in custody to await his fate. As he prepares for sentencing next month, legal experts warn that while his late admission of guilt may offer some leniency, the road ahead involves a strict and regimented life behind bars.
Paul Doyle's decision to plead guilty came on the second day of his trial, a move that spared victims and their families from the ordeal of giving evidence. However, according to legal expert James Pipe, this timing affects how much credit he will receive from the judge and how his life will look in jail.
Paul Doyle's car in the crowd
Officers surrounded his car after he drove into the crowd
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"Legally, a late guilty plea still brings some benefit," Pipe explains. "He won't receive the full one-third reduction given for early admissions, but the judge can still apply a smaller discount. It also removes the uncertainty of a jury trial, and spares the victims' families from reliving the incident in court - something judges do take into account."
Doyle will be sentenced on December 15 and 16 by Judge Andrew Menary KC, who has already warned the defendant to prepare for an "inevitable" custodial sentence of "some length."
The court heard that dashcam footage from Doyle's Ford Galaxy played a crucial role in the prosecution's case. It showed the driver becoming "increasingly agitated" by the crowds celebrating Liverpool FC's Premier League title win, before he drove into them.
Paul Doyle in court
Doyle initially pleaded not guilty to all charges(Image: PA)
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"Mitigation such as previous good character, genuine remorse, and cooperation with the process will be considered, but they won't override the seriousness of the offence," Pipe notes. "The dashcam evidence indicating rising frustration and a moment of rage could work against him, as it suggests impulsive but deliberate behaviour rather than an unavoidable accident."
For a 54-year-old man facing prison for the first time, the transition to life inside will be significant. Currently remanded in custody, Doyle will eventually be classified and moved to a prison that matches his risk profile, experts say.
"In practical terms, a custodial sentence is still very likely," says Pipe. "His life inside will depend heavily on his risk level and behaviour, but first-time offenders who plead guilty and show remorse are typically placed on safer, more supervised wings and encouraged into rehabilitation programmes early."
Paul Doyle
Doyle has been remanded in custody ever since the incident
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While Doyle's legal team may argue for leniency based on his personal circumstances, the sheer scale of the injuries - spanning 29 named victims aged between six months and 77 years - means he will likely spend a considerable number of years away from society.
Indeed, criminologist and psychologist Alex Izsatt tells The Mirror that Doyle could be looking at a sentence of between 10 and 20 years. "His lawyers they may have persuaded him to change the plea on the evidence presented as the chances of acquittal or even a more favourable verdict as very slim.
"A late guilty plea can limits the reduction in sentence, the court will have to weigh the number of victims, severity of injuries, and the scale of risk. Also previous good character and visible remorse could soften the sentence slightly, but it's likely that due to the number of victims that, a long-term prison term is almost certain probably 10 to 20 years," she says.
"As it's a high profile case, Paul may start in a high security prison, and be moved at a later date, depending on good behaviour. If he's prone to emotional breakdowns, they may provide segregation or protective custody initially. It’s likely he will face a tough time from other inmates due to the range of victims as well as the fact he drove into football fans."
More than 130 people reported injuries after the car collided with crowds just after 6pm on May 26. Police said it was "sheer luck" that nobody was killed, with Det Ch Insp John Fitzgerald, from Merseyside Police, adding: "His driving, even before he reached Dale Street, was aggressive and dangerous and he was seen to undertake vehicles, jump lanes and run through a red light."
The charges faced by Doyle are extremely serious. Most of them are offences under Section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, which includes unlawful wounding or inflicting GBH with intent to cause GBH. The maximum sentence is life imprisonment.